Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-19
FROM WASHINGTON.

A late editorial of the Petersburg Inder-
Appcal criticising, it is said, in terms of
much harshness the chairman of the Vir-
pinia democratic State committee, Hon.
Jno. S. Barbour, appears to have attracted
little or no notice i'll any quarter-certalnly
none at The National Capital. AS to one OF
its allegations to the effect that MIR. Bar
bour is hostile to the administration, arepre-
sentative democrat, who is both informed
and authorized TO speak regarding this
charge said to-day that Mr.. Barbour he abso-
lutely knew to be the unqualified supporter
of Cleveland's administration, and further
more that the President and his entire Cab.
met knew that fact The President since
the adjournment of Congress, said our In
formant, has even paid the unusual compli-
ment to MIR. Barbour Of comforting with him
in semi-coniidential way regarding Nir-
GINA affairs, while IS to three aud probably
four members of his Cabinet they are
the close personal as we'll az political
friends of the Virginia democratic leader.
1t is true. said he, when MIR. Barbour re-
turned from Europe several months ago
there went out newspaper statement that
he was attacking or would attack the adj
ministration The report, however, was q
gross perversion of friendly criticism
which MIR. Barbour did make of the admin
istration dealings with the subject of official
appointments. Malone had been sole die.
tator of patronage IN Virginia. He had
given and taken as he wanted, and some
of the democratic people expected about as
much of their leaders. But MIR. Barbour,
who had championed the cause of Cleve.
land at Chicago, and materially aided in
his nomination there, never carried his
complaint beyond the point of squirting the
departments into q little more of activity on
behalf of deserving democratic applicants
for places. This was the head and front OF
his offending, and to-day he is most likely
for the denomination of Mr.. Cleve'
land. If this be hostility to the administra-
ton, the Iader.AppeaI can make the most
of it.
Ex.Congressman Pettibone, of Tennessee,
is here and is overfowing with number OF
clever schemes and strategems against the
democracy. Pettibone isa busy man, always
on the 90 and always with something 10 say
or do both in the political and business
world. He was in Congress six years; was
an industrious, Jealous representative and
always devout republican. Indeed he has
national rank and importance in his party
emitting his utterances to moro than ord.
nary consideration. First of all Pettbone
insists that Blaine will easily get The republic
can nomination. He says the republican
rank and file want him and will press their
demand for Jim Blaine's leadership moro
holly than ever before. In Tennessee he
has made a count of noses. There the white
plumed knight is strongly liz the lead and
will distance all his competitors. The dem
ocratic leaders he believes are afraid OF
Blaine and the republicans having knowi-
edge of that fact don't need to be told that
Blaine is their strongest and best man. They
consider it safest for them to do what the
democrats are afraid they will do. So much
for Blaine But Peitibone also knows, or
says he does, the next nominee of the demo-
cratic party, together with all their plans
and purposes. Aud this most important
know edge he proposes shall be utilized by
the republican party managers in a way that
the democrats will likely 'despise."
Against this ono of the dark and tricky
schemes of the Tennessee statesman
the democratic national committee should
be warned. The republicans must not,
says Pettibone, hold their national conven'
ton before about the lst Of October, next
year. They have the advantage, he says,
this time of knowing both tho candidates
and position OF the democrats. They will
simply renominate Cleveland on platform
that will stradde all the important issues of
the campaign They will straddle the labor
question: straddle the tariff, and straddIe
civil service; in fact, they will straddle
when they put up Cleveland, since the ma
iority will ali the while be inwardly cursing
the hard fate which compels the party to
again take him. Knowing all this, why
should we, asks Petiihone, hurry our party
into action as heretofore? We can be quiet;
post our sentinels, observe tho actions of
the enemy, study the strong and weak
points Of the situation, and finally make go
lection OF our strongest leader. Then we
will make rushing, charging light. routing
the opposition in short order at all points.
Regarding this proposed new departure,
which would defer the republican cOnven.
ton from the month of June to the LIST OF
October, it is perhaps we'll TO say that the
enthusiasm which is at first evoked by an
early nomination, always dies out to be re-
vived again not before the middle OF Sep
TENDER. Pettibone's scheme is to bottle it
up until the time of battle has come, and
then to pour it OCT like a torrent. What
ever the republican national committee
may conclude is best in this matter it is
highly probable they will not hurry their
candidates into the field as formerly. Their
place of meeting will again be Chicago, says
Pettibone, while the democrats, according to
the same authority, will meet either at In.
dianapolis or Baltimore.
The Army Retiring Board, Of which Quar-
termaster General Holabird is President,
has recommended The retirement of Cap
tain J. F. Simpson, 3rd Cavalry, who is now
under treatment at the Government Hospi-
tai for the Insane Captain Simpson is the
officer who created scandal in Arizona a
few years ago bv his conduct with noto-
rious woman. He was court martialed and
sentenced to dismissal. President Arthur,
however. disapproved the findings of the
court and ordered the officers restoration
to duty. He was ostracised by his brother
officers, and was subsequently sent to an
insane asylum for treatment. He will prob
ably be retired as soon as o vacancy oc-
ours in the retired list.
NJ ,-;Inu u,bo ho1 an.